I鈥檓 strapped into the rear seat of a 2019 Subaru Forester Touring, an all-wheel-drive SUV, anxiously awaiting the start of the recce day.

Recce, otherwise known as reconnaissance, is a pre-rally driving activity that allows teams to run each stage鈥檚 course to scout the roads and write their own pace notes,聽an integral part of rallying; it鈥檚聽created to help drivers understand changes in the road and聽surrounding areas, so when the three-day rally begins, they鈥檙e intimately familiar with the route. It鈥檚 also the perfect way聽to find out what the Forester is capable of off pavement.

I鈥檓聽riding with , a seasoned codriver, Oregon Trail Rally competitor, and one of 鈥檚 driving instructors, and her husband, Chris Miller, who鈥檚 behind the wheel.聽Michelle will manage聽the聽GoPros, Monit rally computer, and pace notes. While many Subarus are actually used for rally racing (namely WRXs and older Imprezas, for their speed and precise handling), Foresters, which are slower and taller, are great recce rigs. They鈥檙e nimble, responsive, and sure-footed at the lower speeds required to create sound pace notes. Our Forester is equipped with a 182-horsepower, 2.5-liter, four-cylinder boxer engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which shifts seamlessly through a continuous range of effective gear ratios.

After two passes through three stages, Michelle notes that聽the Forester is a very well-balanced and comfortable ride. Over the course of the day and a few dozen on- and off-road miles, she鈥檚 able to write neatly over rough terrain and not get carsick. Our speed聽varies聽from crawling over washed-out, rocky areas to spirited driving through long tarmac sweeps.聽

Michelle described the Forester as 鈥渧ery roomy and open,鈥� with聽an聽engine that has 鈥済ood and consistent power delivery, along with very good brakes.鈥� She thought it聽rode well over rough gravel and rutted roads.聽鈥淚t was super comfortable,鈥� she says.聽Chris added that the Forester felt solid and quiet, especially given the gravel and dirt-filled miles traversed. 鈥淭he power delivery is also impressive鈥攊t felt torquey all the way up,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 linear and smooth, which made it easy to drive off pavement.鈥�

The Forester鈥檚 active AWD system can vary power distribution to the wheels to suit whatever terrain you鈥檙e tackling. This system adjusts speed to each wheel individually to keep you on track. This helps prevent sliding around a corner when you鈥檙e headed up a snowy mountain pass or slipping on asphalt when it鈥檚 rainy, and it aids in recovery if you start to lose control. I spent over four hours piloting the Forester over dirt and gravel聽and on highways. It felt planted when attacking tight, hard-packed dirt corners, and it eased over bumps and washed-out areas鈥攖he vehicle鈥檚 capabilities really go far beyond rally prep.

The fifth-generation model was completely redesigned for 2019, with a stiffer platform, quieter and larger interior cabin, and improved safety. The new Subaru Global Platform uses hot-pressed, ultrahigh tensile steel in key areas of the structure. This design offers significant increases in safety, stability, rigidity, ride comfort, and noise reduction, all of which we experienced while running recce. Subaru鈥檚 choice to use this type of steel also means less metal framework and more space, resulting聽in greater visibility, wider openings for the rear doors and gate, as well as more passenger and cargo space.

In addition, the Forester Touring offers tons of active and passive safety technology. EyeSight driver-assist technology uses two cameras to spot and alert you to hazards, such as pedestrians,聽or when you stray from your lane. It also features the DriverFocus distraction-mitigation system, a monitoring process that uses infrared sensors and facial recognition to pinpoint driver distraction and warn you when you鈥檙e not paying attention. And聽along with the tech upgrades, it sports seven airbags (two frontal ones, two side-pelvis and torso airbags, two side-curtain airbags, and one at the driver鈥檚 knees).

The Forester is great for one person and their gear聽or small families with their stuff, so you鈥檒l have no trouble driving your mountain bikes to the trailhead or kayaks to the sea. If you still need more space, check out the Subaru Outback or Subaru鈥檚 new Ascent鈥攁 three-row SUV with seating for up to eight people. These models have Subaru鈥檚 famous AWD,聽new steel platform, and many of the same safety features. Ultimately, for those looking to tackle dirt, sand, snow, and highways with one adventuremobile, the Forester is a solid pick for solo explorers and families alike.

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You鈥檙e taking the plunge, diving headfirst into the unknown: buying your first off-road adventure rig. But this needs to be a budget build, not a $60,000 vehicle. This budget beauty will be a fantastic 4×4 that鈥檒l give you years of bountiful experiences鈥攊f everything goes right.

Start by searching locally, scouring ads to find the perfect adventure rig. If you can鈥檛聽find a suitable rig locally, you may need to start looking at other cities鈥� offerings. After expanding your search, you may find that the ideal ride is 1,500 miles away. However, just because you can鈥檛 find your perfect budget build nearby doesn鈥檛 mean you shouldn鈥檛 fly and buy, but know that that聽takes planning, flexibility, and luck.聽

Local Finds

You don鈥檛 need a money tree for a great 4×4. My husband and I have built five budget rigs. The easiest way is to find a one in your town or surrounding area. First, do your research鈥攍earn about the 4×4鈥檚 you鈥檙e interested in owning, know what you鈥檙e willing to spend, and be selective. By doing research, you鈥檒l聽better know聽what to look out for, what the typical mechanical issues are, and how much they cost to fix.聽

Know Your Budget

If you have a certain budget, stick to it. Over the years, I鈥檝e seen 鈥渕echanic鈥檚 specials鈥� empty people鈥檚 wallets. Replacing items like head gaskets, brakes, radiators, or other parts costs real money. Sometimes聽it鈥檚 more than you鈥檙e willing to spend. So know your budget and mechanical capabilities to fix your聽adventuremobile, try and anticipate what you鈥檙e getting into, and try to avoid the dreaded money pit.聽

Test-drive every rig you鈥檙e looking at before settling on one. You聽never know how the vehicle will behave unless you commandeer it.聽

Consider Maintenance

Weigh your options regarding mileage. Finding a low-mileage, 30-year-old rig could be golden, but it could also pose major issues if it sat in one spot for years. Conversely, finding a high-mileage runabout may cost you if basic maintenance hasn鈥檛 been done. If you can鈥檛 get those records, assume nothing鈥檚 been maintained鈥攅ver.聽

You can lengthen your 4×4鈥檚 life by replacing engine oil, transmission fluid, gear oils, coolant, and brake fluid. It鈥檚 cheap insurance if you鈥檙e not sure if it鈥檚 never been done before. Check the brakes, anything equipped with grease fittings, and the ignition system (plugs, wires, the cap, the rotor). These are fairly inexpensive items that鈥檒l save you headaches. Ask me how I know.

Fly and Buy

Fly somewhere, buy a rig, drive it back home. We live in Oregon, and we鈥檝e completed two fly and buys in Texas. We鈥檙e into Japanese domestic-market聽4×4鈥檚 and scored two right-hand-drive Mitsubishi Pajeros with turbocharged diesel engines. There鈥檚 not a huge demand for small 4×4鈥檚 in the Lone Star State, so importers post elsewhere in the hopes that聽interested parties will snatch them up.聽

How to Do It

Possibilities are endless if you look outside your local area. Once you find something you鈥檙e looking for, check it out via Skype or聽phone, or have a trusted friend look at it for you. It鈥檚 risky, but if you鈥檙e willing to travel, you may be rewarded with the budget rig of your dreams.

Both times we did a fly and buy, we had trusted friends check the vehicles out. After phone calls, videos, and Facebook Live walk-arounds, we decided to buy them. Since they were early 1990s 4×4鈥檚, we knew there鈥檇 be dents, scratches, and nonfunctioning features here and there.聽

What to Bring

Pay in cash (versus wiring money in advance). Pack zip ties, duct tape, a AAA card, and patience. Get copies of the import paperwork before you go鈥攖his is critical for getting a temporary trip plate from the DMV. Get car insurance set up before you go so it starts the day you purchase the vehicle. Before making your journey back home, check with every聽state you鈥檒l be passing through聽to ensure they accept your state鈥檚 temporary plates. Some states may not accept trip permits.聽

Finally, allow extra time in case you run into issues. Let others know your planned route. Fly and buys take聽time, trust, and a bit of know-how. Pack your sense of adventure. Once you鈥檝e bought your budget build, you need to drive it home鈥攁nd that could be an undertaking in and of聽itself!

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